Word featured in The Simpsons becomes latest addition to Collins English Dictionary

A word which suggests a lack of enthusiasm has beaten hundreds of others to become the latest addition to the Collins English Dictionary.

Meh, which can mean unimpressed, mediocre or boring, was chosen as the public's entry for the 30th anniversary edition of Collins English Dictionary which will be published next year.

Lisa Simpson spelled out M-E-H for Homer

People were asked to recommend a word to a panel of Collins language experts who chose meh because of the frequency of its use in today's English.

Meh was submitted by Erin Whyte from Nottingham who defined it as "an expression of utter boredom or an indication of how little you care for an idea".

The dictionary entry will say meh can be used as an interjection to suggest indifference or boredom or as an adjective to say something is mediocre or boring or a person is apathetic, bored or unimpressed.

Collins said it had been aware of the growing use of meh in written and spoken language for some time.

It said the word which originated in the US and Canada, is widely used on the internet and is now appearing in British spoken English as well as in print media.

Cormac McKeown, head of content at Collins Dictionaries, said: "This is a new interjection from the US that seems to have inveigled its way into common speech over here.

"It was actually spelled out in The Simpsons when Homer is trying to prise the kids away from the TV with a suggestion for a day trip.

"They both just reply 'meh' and keep watching TV; he asks again and Lisa says 'We said MEH! - M-E-H, meh!'

"It's now so deeply entrenched on the net that it's also become an adjective, meaning mediocre and also bored.

"Internet forums and email are playing a big part in formalising the spellings of vocal interjections like these. A couple of other examples would be hmm and heh, which are both now ubiquitous online and in emails.

"It shows people are increasingly writing in a register somewhere in between spoken and written English."

Jargonaut, frenemy and huggles were among the other words suggested to the Word of Mouth campaign run by Collins Dictionaries and book chain Waterstone's in June.

Elaine Higgleton, editorial director at Collins Dictionaries, said: "We ran this campaign to encourage the general public to tell us about the words that they use every day when talking with friends, but that aren't in the dictionary.

"Language is used by everyone and we want to make sure that Collins dictionaries include everyone's words."